By Nightfall

This is the story of Peter Harris, a 44 year old gallery owner in New York and what happens to him over a period of a few days. This is a wonderful novel, a contemplation on encroaching middle age, on values, marriage, parenthood, art and ideals. The writing is exquisite, the language occasionally stunning. It surprised me, and I like being surprised. It's astounding how much is in the 238 pages of this novel, how vivid the images are, how vibrant the characters. Cunningham writes in a self-assured east coast tradition of Fitzgerald and Cheever. It's very erudite and empathic. Wow. Read. His previous novel The Hours won the Pulitzer and was made into a much lauded film.